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Dietary supplement

Bilberry Extract Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Herbal Secrets

Softgel Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Bilberry Extract is a dietary supplement by Herbal Secrets with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for eye and vision health, antioxidant support, diarrhea and digestive upset.Based on those ingredients, 275 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Bilberry. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Bilberry Extract by Herbal Secrets

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Bilberry Extract contains one active ingredient: bilberry fruit extract in softgel capsule form. The extract is made from the fruit of the bilberry plant, which is rich in anthocyanidins—pigments that give bilberries their deep blue color.

The softgels also contain inactive ingredients (soybean oil, glyceryl monostearate, and the capsule itself) that help deliver the extract.

Does it work?

Not established
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Bilberry's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: eye, cardiovascular, immune and circulatory health.
  • We looked for evidence on: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Asthenopia (eye strain), Atherosclerosis, Cataracts, Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), Diabetic retinopathy — and 4 related terms.
  • The closest evidence on file: Bilberry is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Bilberry is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Atherosclerosis, Cataracts, Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), Diabetic retinopathy, and more.

The evidence for bilberry extract is limited. Night vision—perhaps the most common reason people try bilberry—is rated possibly ineffective, meaning the data doesn't support that claim.

For other uses listed in our data—age-related cognitive decline, macular degeneration, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, and chronic venous insufficiency—we don't have enough reliable evidence to rate whether it works. If you're considering this supplement for a specific reason, talk it over with your doctor or pharmacist about what the science actually shows.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Bilberry

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Bilberry fruit as a food is generally well tolerated. However, the safety data for concentrated supplements like this one is limited, and long-term safety is not well established.

The most common side effects are dark-colored or discolored stools, flatulence, and mild stomach discomfort. Some people have reported temporary gastrointestinal upset or dark discoloration of the tongue and teeth.

Given the gaps in safety data, it's best to discuss this supplement with your doctor or pharmacist before starting it, especially if you're taking any medications.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Bilberry

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Bilberry.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 275 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs (like warfarin, aspirin, or clopidogrel), diabetes medications, erlotinib (Tarceva) for cancer, or drugs metabolized by the CYP2E1 enzyme pathway. Bilberry may increase bleeding risk, lower blood sugar too far, reduce cancer drug effectiveness, or affect how certain medications are broken down in your body.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Bilberry Extract may appeal to you if you're interested in natural antioxidants, but the evidence that it actually works for vision or cognitive health is not strong. The biggest concern is its potential to interact with blood thinners, diabetes drugs, and certain cancer medications—so if you take any prescription drugs, check them against this product's interactions first.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting it to make sure it's safe for your individual situation.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jun 23, 2021.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Bilberry Extract, straight from the product label.

Brand Herbal Secrets
Barcode (UPC) 810180021388
Net contents 120 Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jun 23, 2021
DSLD ID 251254
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Bilberry Extract by Herbal Secrets, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
Servings per container
120
UPC/BARCODE
810180021388
IngredientAmount% DV
Bilberry100 mg--

Other ingredients: Soybean Oil, Glyceryl Monostearate, Softgel capsules

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formula

Herbal Secrets Bilberry Extract is rich in anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are plant pigments that give bilberry its signature color and super-high antioxidant content.

Formulation

Bilberry Extract's antioxidant properties helps neutralize the effects of free radical damage and oxidative stress in cells. Bilberry Extract also supports eye, cardiovascular, immune and circulatory health.

Potent antioxidant properties - Helps neutralize the effects of free radicals - Supports eye health - Promotes heart & immune functions

Contains no: Artificial preservatives, colors, flavors or sweeteners, sugar, starch, milk, lactose, gluten, wheat, yeast, fish or sodium.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: As a dietary supplement, adults take one (1) softgel once or twice daily, preferably with a meal or as directed by a health care professional.

Precautions

Caution: Avoid this product if you are allergic to soy.

If you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medication(s) or have any medical condition, consult your doctor before use.

Discontinue use and consult your doctor if any adverse reactions occur.

Keep out of reach of children.

Do not use if safety seal is damaged or missing.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

General Statements

Visit us online @ amazingnutrition.com

Seals/Symbols

100% Natural Made in the USA

Good manufacturing practice GMP Quality product

FDA Statement of Identity

Natural Dietary Supplement

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

Brand IP Statement(s)

Trademark Herbal Secrets

See for yourself

Bilberry Extract by Herbal Secrets label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Bilberry Extract by Herbal Secrets

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Servings per container120 Amounts shown are per serving.

Bilberry

Interacts with
275 drugs
100 mg per serving

Bilberry is a blueberry-like fruit rich in antioxidant plant compounds called anthocyanins, and it has a long history of traditional use for eye healt...

Bilberry monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Soybean Oil, Glyceryl Monostearate, Softgel capsules. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Bilberry Extract by Herbal Secrets Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Bilberry Extract?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
275Drugs
275 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Bilberry 275

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Bilberry Extract with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Bilberry4 drug types · 275 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, bilberry fruit extract might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro, animal, and clinical research suggest that anthocyanidin extracts from bilberry can inhibit platelet aggregation.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, bilberry leaf or fruit extract may increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
Animal research suggests that bilberry leaf extract might have blood glucose-lowering activity. Also, one small clinical trial in patients with type 2 diabetes shows that taking bilberry fruit extract 470 mg as a single dose prior to an oral glucose tolerance test lowers plasma glucose levels when compared with placebo.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2E1 (Cyp2E1) Substrates

Theoretically, bilberry fruit extract might decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2E1.
Animal research shows that exposure to small concentrations of bilberry extract in drinking water for around one month increased CYP2E1 activity by 31%. However, exposure over a 2-month period did not increase CYP2E1 activity. This effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Erlotinib (Tarceva)

Theoretically, bilberry fruit extract might reduce the efficacy of erlotinib.
In vitro research suggests that bilberry fruit extract and its constituents, delphinidin and delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, inhibit the activity of erlotinib. This interaction has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Bilberry Extract, from the product label.

Herbal Secrets

See all Herbal Secrets products
Name
Herbal Secrets
Street Address
629 Grove Street
City
Jersey City
State
NJ
ZipCode
07310
Web Address
amazingnutrition.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Bilberry Extract by Herbal Secrets: Common Questions

Does Bilberry Extract by Herbal Secrets interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Bilberry Extract has a known interaction with 275 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Bilberry Extract contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Is bilberry safe to take during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Bilberry fruit at food amounts is rated likely safe during pregnancy and lactation. However, this is a concentrated supplement, and safety data for high doses is limited. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice before taking it while pregnant or nursing.
Can bilberry really improve my night vision?
The evidence suggests night vision improvement is possibly ineffective—meaning research doesn't back up this common claim. If vision support is why you're considering this supplement, it's worth discussing other options with your eye doctor.
What are the side effects of this bilberry extract?
Most people tolerate it well. The most common side effects are dark-colored stools, gas, and mild stomach upset. A small number of people have reported temporary gastrointestinal discomfort or dark discoloration of the tongue or teeth.
Why does bilberry cause dark stools?
Bilberry's deep blue pigments (anthocyanidins) pass through your digestive system and can stain your stool dark blue or black. This is harmless and temporary—it should go away once you stop taking the supplement.
Is this product safe to take long-term?
Long-term safety data for bilberry supplements is limited. While bilberry fruit as a food is generally safe, concentrated supplements like this one haven't been studied extensively over time. Discuss long-term use with your doctor or pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Bilberry Extract is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Bilberry Extract label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Bilberry Extract's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 14 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Bilberry 14 references
  1. Cignarella A, Nastasi M, Cavalli E, Puglisi L. Novel lipid-lowering properties of Vaccinium myrtillus L. leaves, a traditional antidiabetic treatment, in several models of rat dyslipidaemia: a comparison with ciprofibrate. Thromb Res 1996;84:311-22. PubMed
  2. Morazzoni P, Magistretti MJ. Activity of Myrtocyan, an anthosyanoside complex from Vaccinium myrtillus (VMA), on platelet aggregation and adhesiveness. Fitoterapia 1990;61:13-21.
  3. Erlund, I., Koli, R., Alfthan, G., Marniemi, J., Puukka, P., Mustonen, P., Mattila, P., and Jula, A. Favorable effects of berry consumption on platelet function, blood pressure, and HDL cholesterol. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;87(2):323-331. PubMed
  4. Hawrelak, J. A. and Myers, S. P. Effects of two natural medicine formulations on irritable bowel syndrome symptoms: a pilot study. J Altern Complement Med 2010;16(10):1065-1071. PubMed
  5. Morazzoni P and Magistretti MJ. Effects of Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides on prostacyclin-like activity in rat arterial issue. Fitoterapia 1986;57:11-14.
  6. Pulliero G, Montin S, Bettini V, and et al. Ex vivo study of the inhibitory effects of Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides on human platelet aggregation. Fitoterapia 1989;60:69-75.
  7. Bottecchia D. Preliminary report on the inhibitory effect of vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanosides on platelet aggregation and clot retraction. Fitoterapia 1987;48:3-8.
  8. Fdez, M., Zaragoza, F., and Alvarez, P. In vitro platelet aggregation effects of anthocyanosides of vaccinium myrtilus L. Anales de la Real Academia de Farmacia 1983;49:79-90.
  9. Biedermann L, Mwinyi J, Scharl M, Frei P, Zeitz J, Kullak-Ublick GA, et al. Bilberry ingestion improves disease activity in mild to moderate ulcerative colitis-an open pilot study. 2013 May;7(4):271-9. PubMed
  10. Hoggard N, Cruickshank M, Moar KM, Bestwick C, Holst J, Russell W, et al. A single supplement of a standardized bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) extract (36% wet weight anthocyanins) modifies glycaemic response in individuals with type 2 diabetes control
  11. Aichinger G, Pahlke G, Nagel LJ, Berger W, Marko D. Bilberry extract, its major phenolic compounds, and soy isoflavone genistein antagonize the cytostatic drug erlotinib in human epithelial cells. Food Funct 2016;7(8):3628-36.
  12. Prokop J, Lněničková K, Cibicek N, et al. Effect of bilberry extract (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) on drug-metabolizing enzymes in rats. Food Chem Toxicol 2019;129:382-90. PubMed
  13. Chan SW, Chu TTW, Choi SW, Benzie IFF, Tomlinson B. Impact of short-term bilberry supplementation on glycemic control, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and antioxidant status in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. Phytother Res 2021. Online ahead o PubMed
  14. Bøhn SK, Myhrstad MCW, Thoresen M, et al. Bilberry/red grape juice decreases plasma biomarkers of inflammation and tissue damage in aged men with subjective memory impairment -a randomized clinical trial. BMC Nutr 2021;7(1):75. PubMed

See these in context on the Bilberry monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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